Filter bag support for suction cleaners



. ll I FILTER BAG SUPPORT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Nov. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 YINVENTOR (lanes R. Weaver I BY April 27, 1943. J. w. WEAVER FILTER BAG SUPPORT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Nov. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR James WIVVeaver BY MyJ/W ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,317,569 I,

FILTER BAG SUPP RT FOR SUCTIOE l O CLEANE poration of Ohio Application November 22, 1940, Serial No 386',526- v 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in supports for suction cleaner filter bags and more particularly to improved means for supporting the pap r filter bag within an outer enclosure or envelope of a woven material and for the purpose of reinforcing the inner bag against failure and possible rupture under the accumulation of heavier dirt particles at its lower end.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a general view of a suction cleaner equipped with a so-called double bag arrangement wherein the inner filter bag is constructed of paper or like fibrous material;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a double bag assembly with the outer envelope open to show the internal arrangement of filter bag and auxiliary supporting girdle;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in cross section through the bag assembly as taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figures 4 and 5 are views illustrating the effect on the filter bag of dirt accumulation without and with the auxiliary support for its lower portion.

The suction cleaner shown in Figure 1 represents any standard make of the handle maneuvered portable type, consisting generally of a wheeled body or casing i housing the suctioncreating means connected with a nozzle at its forward end and a handle 2 pivotally connected with the cleaner body. The dirt-filtering assembly consists primarily of a filter bag 3 of a porous paper-like fibrous material having detachable connection at its lower end with the discharge outlet la at the rear end of the cleaner body and an outer bag-like envelope 4 completely enclosing the filter bag and connected at its lower end with the discharge outlet from the cleaner body and suspended at its upper end from the cleaner handle.

By reason of the fact that the handle is free to swing vertically through substantially 90 degrees, that is to say, from a vertical position to a rearwardly extending horizontal position, and th upper end of the filter bag enclosing envelope is attached to the handle, it follows that considerable flexing must take place throughout the lower portion of the filter bag by reason of its attachment to the relatively stationary cleaner body. Hence, it is preferred to interpose between the lower end of the filter bag 3 and th outlet connection from the cleaner body, a so-called hinged adapter consisting primarily of a collar 5 having hinged connection with an attaching fittingG having detachable mounting atthe exhaust outlet connection from the cleaner body. A-tubular bellows section 1 forms an extensible conduit between the discharge outlet from the cleaner body and the hinged collar 5, the latter being provided with an annular seat for the gathered neck portion-at the lower end of the filter bag 3, the'same being held in place on its seat by means of a simple form of contractible clamping ring 8 operated by means of a lever 9.

If desired, the hinged'adapter may also include a rigid muiiler element i0 extending beyond-the bag clamping seat and consisting essenti'ally'of a cylindric extension or sleeve lined with sponge rubber or other suitable sound-absorbing ma-' terial. A dirt val've II is preferably provided'at the end of the muilier, thesame having the form of a short sleeve of cloth or other flexible material acting to prevent th dirt from falling back into the mumer, as will later be explained.

The outer envelope 4 is slightly longer than the filter bag 3 and is suitably attached at its lower nd to the base fitting 6 of the adapter and, as previously mentioned, is supported at its upper end from th cleaner handle by means of an extensible connecting member l2. To gain access to the interior of the envelope 4 for the purpose of detaching and removing the filter bag 3, the envelope is capable of being opened throughout its length and along its underside by means of a fastener i3 of the "zipper type.

Now, forming an integral part 01' the outer envelope i is the auxiliary filter bag support or girdle H, consisting of a piece of fabric which is sewn into the lower end of the envelope and so disposed as to form a sort of confining bond for the lower portion of the filter bag and more particularly for that portion immediately beyond its seat on the adapter. As shown in Figure 4, it is at this point that the heavier particles of sand and dirt naturally accumulate and the weight of this mass exerted constantly on the folds of the bag material where they are gathered to form the restricted neck portion will in time cause the bag to fail.

In a word, therefore, the girdle H provides an additional support for the lower portion of the filter bag and its effectiveness is due in a large measure to its initial shape and its mounting within the outer envelope. In the first place, the fabric is so fashioned as to conform generally to the shape of the inflated bag throughout the portion to be supported thereby. Secondly, its circumferential dimensions are somewhat less than the corresponding dimensions of the envelope material itself, in order that the girdle may conform more nearly to the contour of the lower end portion of the filter bag and thus confine and support the walls which otherwise would tend to bulge under the accumulation of dirt between the muflier or sleeve II and the bag material, as is clearly evident by comparing Figures 4 and 5.

Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the girdle is simply a wide piece of fabric with its ends out on the bias, so that its upper edge is somewhat longer than its lower edge. The and edges of the strip are stitched at Ha, Ha to the inside of the outer envelope and along the opposite edges of the zipper fastened opening extending the length of its underside, so that when these end edges are brought together by closing the envelope, the strip or band fits snugly around the lower end of the filter bag and supports the same against the strains which otherwise would lead to a premature rupture and a materially shortened life.

Having set' forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and its meritorious features, I claim:

1. A filter bag assembly for suction cleaners, comprising a bag of filtering material adapted for detachable connection with the exhaust outlet from the cleaner, and an outer envelope of fabric enclosing said filter bag and including a girdlelike support for the lower portion of said filter bag, the same consisting of a piece of fabric having its end edges stitched to the interior of said outer envelope to form a band conforming substantially to the contour of the portion of the filter bag to be supported thereby.

2. A filter bag assembly for suction cleaners, comprising a bag of filter paper or like porous material adapted for detachable connection to the exhaust outlet from the cleaner body, and means for supporting the filter bag including an envelope of fabric having a closable opening throughout its length, and a girdle-like auxiliary support for the lower portion of said bag consisting of a separate piece of fabric inserted into the envelope with its opposite edges stitched along opposite sides of the opening therein, the length of said piece from one stitched edge to the other being substantially less than the circumference of said envelope at the point of insertion of said support.

3. A filter bag assembly for suction cleaners, comprising a filter bag of porous paper or like fibrous material adapted for detachable connection at its lower end with the exhaust outlet from the cleaner body, and an outer envelope of fabric enclosing said filter bag and adapted to open and close throughout its length with a zipper-type fastening, and a girdle-like support for the lower portion of said filter bag consisting of a relatively wide band of fabric having its end edges cut on the bias and stitched to the interior of said outer envelope along opposite sides of the opening therein, the length of said band, measured from one stitched edge to the other, being substantially less than the circumference of the envelope at the band.

4. A filter bag assembly for suction cleaners, comprising a bag of filtering material adapted to be connected with the cleaner exhaust outlet for g the reception of dirt-laden air, a fabric girdle surrounding the lower end of said bag adjacent its connection to the cleaner exhaust outlet, said girdle having a closable opening for the removable attachment of said bag to the cleaner exhaust outlet. said girdle being of smaller circumferential dimension than said bag when the latter is inflated to thereby constrict and support said bag upon receiving dirt-laden air from the cleaner exhaust outlet.

JAMES W. WEAVER. 

